A special counsel report released on Tuesday has accused former US President Donald Trump of engaging in a "criminal effort" to retain power after his 2020 election loss.

Special Counsel Jack Smith, who led the investigation, outlined how Trump attempted to obstruct the certification of votes following his defeat by Democratic President Joe Biden.

The report, which culminated in a four-count indictment against Trump, revealed that the evidence presented would have been sufficient to secure a conviction.

However, Smith noted that Trump’s imminent exit from office and the certification of Biden’s election victory ultimately blocked any legal proceedings prior to Biden’s inauguration on January 20, 2021.

Smith’s investigation, which has been met with significant criticism from Trump’s supporters, highlights a deliberate scheme by the former president to undermine the democratic process.

According to the report, Trump’s efforts included attempts to influence state election officials, mobilize supporters to disrupt the certification process, and pressure the Justice Department to back his claims of election fraud.

In his letter defending the investigation, Smith addressed the ongoing accusations from Trump and his legal team, who have characterized the special counsel’s actions as politically motivated.

“The claim from Mr. Trump that my decisions were influenced or directed by the Biden administration or other political actors is, in a word, laughable,” Smith wrote.

Trump’s legal team immediately denounced the findings, calling the report a politically motivated attack aimed at damaging the former president’s political career.

They argued that the report’s timing—shortly before the 2024 presidential election—was designed to undermine Trump’s efforts to secure a return to office.

The legal battle surrounding Trump’s role in the 2020 election continues to unfold, with his legal team expected to challenge the indictment in court. Critics argue that Trump’s actions pose a dangerous precedent for future efforts to subvert the electoral process, while supporters contend that he is being unfairly targeted by political adversaries.